URGES GUYANESE TO VOTE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS BACK HOME
by Joshua Harris
A prominent group of Guyanese-Americans, South Asians, Indo-Caribbeans & Americans, led by District Leader Albert Baldeo and consisting of community leaders and advocates Vishnu Mahadeo, Ramola Persaud, Kenneth Rampersaud, Sherry Williams, Mitch Budhram, and others, are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Diwali bill that passed in the State Assembly and State Senate into law, and not allow it to die as the legislative session in Albany closes. “We have fought relentlessly at all levels of government for Diwali to be a holiday for over three decades, and the large South Asian population deserves to be seen and heard,” Baldeo said, referring to his advocacy and those of others memorialized on social media over the years. “The message of Diwali, that good triumphs over evil, light over darkness, is universal,” Baldeo said.
They also urge all Guyanese not to take democracy for granted and to turn out in large numbers and cast their ballots in the local government elections in oil-rich Guyana following Monday, June 12, 2023. “On Monday, there will be local elections in Guyana, and we urge you to vote for progress and unity, as the ruling PPP/C Party envisioned in its “One Guyana” platform. President Ali has stood shoulder to shoulder with all Guyanese in trying times, like the recent Mahdia tragedy, where the fire took the lives of 20 young students. He must be allowed to implement his vision and leadership for Guyana,” the group said. Most importantly, Guyanese must guard their newly installed democracy vigilantly, beginning with voting and civic participation.” In solidarity with the ruling party, they wore red, the color of the PPP/C. They sent several messages using live feeds and various forms of social media, telephone calls, and texts to urge their families, neighbors, and friends to bring out the vote in Guyana.
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